DE2220569A1 - SHOCK ABSORBING STEERING WHEEL - Google Patents

Description

PATENT ADVOCATE DR. PAUL STREBEL

8035 GAUTING 2, AgnesstraBe 3 Telephone Munich (0811) 861564

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P 2303 J Gauting near Munich, 26. April 1972

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Kiyoji ITO, Japan

Shock-absorbing steering wheel

The invention relates to improvements in steering wheels, as used on various types of vehicles and ships. In particular, the invention relates to a Control device that moves down when a strong, downward blow or blow is applied to the Steering wheel is exercised. The energy exerted by the blow is absorbed. This prevents that the driver receives a violent blow on the stomach or another part of the body.

In particular, the invention creates a shock-absorbing one Control device with which also after the shock absorption

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normal steering is possible.

The invention will now be further explained with reference to the following drawings.

It mean

Pig. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section along the line II - II according to FIG. 1; FIG.

Pig 3 shows an enlarged cross-section along the line III - III according to Pig. 2;

Pig, 4 shows an enlarged cross section along the line IV - IV according to Pig. 2;

Pig · 5 and 6 are similar views to Pig · 2, a second and third embodiment of the invention;

Pig. 7 is a view similar to Pig. 2, according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;

Pig. 8 shows an enlarged cross section along the line VIII - VIII according to Pig. 7;

Pig 9 is a plan view of a fifth embodiment the invention;

Pig. 10 shows a longitudinal section along the line X-X according to Pig. 9;

Pig. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10, in which shows the steering wheel moving downwards.

In the drawings, like reference numerals indicate like parts.

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From the 3? 1 to 4, which are a first embodiment of the Represent invention, it can be seen that a tubular steering column 2 from the center of the steering wheel 1 downwards runs. At the lower end of this steering column 2, a part 3 with an enlarged diameter is attached in one piece.

At the lower end of this part 3 with an enlarged diameter there are indentations 4, 4 lying opposite one another. Both sides of the indentations 4, 4 are facing outwards protruding stops 5, 5 attached.

Between the stops 5 »5, the upper part of a lock or detent 6, 6 is attached and rotatably attached by a horizontal pin 7,7. In the lower part of the lock 6, 6 there is one after inwardly directed engagement lug 8, 8.

A rotating shaft 9 for transmitting the rotation of the steering wheel 1 to the wheels is slidable in the enlarged part 3 inserted from below. Vertical gaps 10, 10 are arranged on two opposite sides of the rotary shaft 9, which are designed so that the locks 6, 6 herein in a vertical, but not in a lateral direction are movable. On the inner wall of this vertical Column 10, 10 are several vertically arranged toothings 11 provided, which are each shaped so that they Engaging lugs 8, 8 of the locks 6, 6 are able to receive flush.

To the parts of the locks 6, 6 on which the engagement lugs 8, 8 are located, an elastic ring is made Rubber or metal attached; as a result, the engaging lugs 8, 8 are normally resiliently engaged with the top teeth 11 in the vertical seat strands 10,

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The rotating shaft 9 is provided with a stop or flange 13, which the lower end of the vertical slots 10 forms.

The lower end of the enlarged part 3 of the steering column 2 is slidably engaged with the upper end of the rotary shaft 9, the axes of the steering column 2 and the rotary shaft 9 each being exactly aligned with one another.

The device according to the invention operates in the normal state in the same way as the well-known steering wheels. It only develops its specific properties in an accident.

Palis namely one with the device according to the invention equipped vehicle collides with another vehicle or object or another vehicle from backwards and the driver is thrown forward and with his body against the steering wheel bounces, the engaging engaging lugs 8, 8 of the locks 6, 6 are pushed down and go from the top teeth 11 in the vertical slots 10 of the rotating shaft 9 against the holding force of the elastic Ring 12 out and slide down in the vertical slots 10, as indicated by dash-dotted lines in Fig. is shown. As a result, the steering wheel 1 moves accordingly downward.

After the steering wheel 1, corresponding to a sufficient Way to absorb the shock received, has gone down, engage the engaging lugs 8, 8 in the teeth 11, 11 at the corresponding points of the slots 10 and at the same time pulls the elastic Ring 12 together and holds the locks 6, 6 in this

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Position so that the steering wheel 1 can be used immediately in the normal way

The invention thus creates a very useful shock absorbing one Control device in the event that the vehicle suffers a collision or another vehicle from backwards and a violent blow or shock is exerted on the steering wheel. The elastic Ring 12 is forcibly pushed apart and thus absorbs the energy developed by the shock and walks at the same time the steering wheel 1 immediately down, so that the driver does not receive a fatal blow or chest injuries or other injuries. In addition, even after the steering wheel 1 has been pressed down, in normal Way to be controlled.

In FIG. 5, analogously to FIG. 2, there is a second embodiment of the invention shown, in which no teeth except the top teeth 11 in the vertical Slots 10 of the rotary shaft 9 are present. In this embodiment, too, the locks 6, 6 are made the teeth 11, 11 in engagement are pushed out and slide due to the strong, pressing on the steering wheel 1 force, against the holding force of the elastic Ring 12, downwards, so that a substantial part of the shock is absorbed. This will prevent the driver receives a strong blow to the chest or another part of the body when he hits the steering wheel 1 is thrown.

The embodiment according to FIG. 6 is a modification of the Embodiment according to FIG. 5. Both embodiments, are similar in that only the top teeth 11 in the vertical. Slots 10 are present. The embodiment according to FIG. 5, however, differs in this respect.

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Starting from the embodiment according to FIG. 6, that the inner walls of the vertical slots 10 below the teeth 11 inclined outwards towards the lower end of the slot are like this in Pig. 6 is shown. In this pail the locks 6, 6 after they have been pushed out by the force exerted on the steering wheel 1 downwards were gradually spread outwards, whereby the elastic ring 12 is strongly pushed apart and spread, so that the shock absorption is even more effective than in the embodiment according to FIG. 5 takes place.

In Pig. 7 shows a longitudinal section through a fourth embodiment of the invention. Pig. 8 denotes a cross section along the line VIII-VIII according to Pig, FIG.

In this embodiment, the lower part 2a of the steering column 2 extends through the enlarged part 3 downwards and is fitted in the axial cavity 14 of the rotating shaft 9. Otherwise, this embodiment corresponds to the first embodiment.

Along one side of the lower part 2a of the steering column 2 there is a vertical gap 15 in which a driving pin 16 is engaged on the inner surface of the cavity 14 of the rotating shaft. This will make the rotation of the steering column 2 better transferred to the rotating shaft 9 and also a complete alignment of the steering column 2 and the Rotating shaft 9 causes.

In Figures 9-11 there is another embodiment of the invention shown in which no tubular steering column extends from the center of the steering wheel 1 downwards. Instead, the upper ends of the detents 6, 6 with the engaging lugs 8, 8 are on the inside of the lower ends rotatable by means of horizontal pins 21, 21 on the respective Attacks 20, 20 attached, which below the

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Steering wheel 1 are arranged diametrically opposite one another.

The rotating shaft 9 is provided with vertical slots 10, 10, the inner walls of which have toothings 11, 11 which are designed in such a way that they engage the engaging noses 8, 8 of the locks 6, 6 can accommodate flush. Furthermore, an elastic ring 12 is attached around the parts of the locks 6, 6, on which the engagement lugs 8, 8 are located. Under normal conditions, the engagement lugs 8, 8 are elastic with the uppermost teeth 11, 11 held in engagement, as in the previous embodiments.

As in the previous embodiments, in this embodiment the engagement lugs 8, 8 of the locks 6, 6 when a strong, downward force is exerted on the steering wheel 1 from the top teeth 11, 11 the holding force of the elastic ring 12 and slide, as shown in Fig. 11, downwards. Through this avoids a violent impact on the driver's body and injuries to the driver.

In this embodiment, it is possible to omit the teeth 11, 11, with the exception of the uppermost, the remaining part of the inner wall of the vertical slots, that is, the part under the single toothing 11, straight or after can be tapered at the top, as in the embodiment according to FIGS. 5 and 6.

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Claims (1)

Claims 1. istossabsorbing steering wheel, characterized by several locks (6), each on the inner surface have an engaging lug (8) and horizontally rotatably attached to a part of the steering wheel (1), a Rotary shaft (9) for transmitting the rotation of the steering wheel (1) to the wheels, the rotary shaft (9) on its outer circumference has vertical slots (10) in which the locks (6) can be displaced in the vertical direction and the inner wall of the vertical slots (10) is provided with serrations (11) which are formed so that the engagement lugs (8) of the locks (6) engage with them, and one way around the locks (6) attached elastic ring (12) that the engaging lugs (8) on the inner surfaces of the latches (6) elastic with the respective toothings (11) of the rotating shaft (9) are engaged so that if a strong blow is applied to the top of the steering wheel (1), the engagement lugs (8) of the locks (6) are pressed down and out of the teeth (11) of the rotating shaft (9) Jump out and counter the holding force of the elastic Slide down the ring (12). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the locks (6) are rotatable on part of the tubular Steering column (2) are attached, which extends from the center of the steering wheel (1) downwards. 5. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that that the locks (6) are rotatably arranged on the lower part of an enlarged part (3), which then to the lower end of the tubular steering column (2) ./. 9 309844/0755 is attached, and a rotating shaft (9) slidable in the enlarged part (3) is inserted from below. 4. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower part of the tubular steering column (2) in the axial cavity of the rotary shaft (9) is arranged. 5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastic ring (12) consists of a rubber ring, 6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that "the elastic ring (12) consists of a metal spring. 7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that no teeth (11) except for the top teeth (11) are arranged in the rotating shaft (.9), and the remaining part of the inner wall of each vertical slot (10) is formed below the toothing (11) so that it forms a vertical plane. 8. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that that no teeth (11) apart from the uppermost teeth (11) are arranged in the rotary shaft (9) and the remaining one Part of the inner wall of the vertical slots (10) between the toothing (11) and the lower end of the Slot (10) is inclined outward. 9. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that that the upper ends of the locks (6) are rotatably attached to the steering wheel (1). 309844/0755 Blank page